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http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040726/nation.htm#4

The reason is to prevent dogs reared by Dalits, economically and socially backward classes, from mating with bitches roaming in the colonies of upper caste Hindus.

The discrimination was first exposed in a journal brought out by students of the communication department of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.

The CPM, too, has taken up the issue of exploitation of Dalits and sent a team to Shanmugapuram village in Thoothukudi district. The team reportedly noticed many discriminatory practices against Dalits.

The Marxist cadres were surprised not to find any dog in Dalit colonies. The journal also stated that Dalits were forbidden to keep towels on their shoulders, whenever they entered upper caste streets.

In the local schools, too, Dalit children faced discrimination and were not allowed to sit with children belonging to upper castes. They were also not allowed to drink water from taps or earthen pots, used by upper caste children.

They were even forced to work as domestic help after school hours in the homes of some teachers.

When a human rights activist, Mr M. Bharatan, visited the village he came across a number of cases of “inhuman discrimination”. But the poor and illiterate Dalits were “too afraid to speak out against their masters. The situation will change only if they are imparted education and given opportunity to become economically independent,” he noted in a report.

Shanmugapuram village has about 50 Dalit (Arundhathiyars) and 150 Reddiyar families. Dalits work as coolies in Reddiyars’ fields and are dependent on the dominant castes for their livelihood.

The CPM has now decided to launch an agitation in protest against such caste discrimination.

The women belonging to the dominant community alone have the privilege of bathing in the sanitary complex constructed by the government. To cap it all, the local Village Administrative Officer and ‘thalayari’ got money from Dalits on the promise of providing them group houses, only to cheat them.

Unfortunately, the district administration and the police continued to deny the prevalence of any discriminatory practices at Shanmugapuram village, a CPM leader said.